There are many approaches to creating web sites and applications, ranging from “napkin” design (figurative for a very informal process), to a very formal process laden with checkpoints and documentation. At Enable, we adapt our process to your needs. We’ll use “just enough” process to ensure your project is a success. And always, your business goals are at the center of the process. There are 6 basic steps to the Enable process.
Phase 1: Information Gathering
First we listen. You know your business and your objectives. We know technology, but we are also business owners. We believe the purpose of software is to provide a positive business impact. We’ll ask a lot of questions to help us understand your business and the objectives for your site. Our focus is first on your objectives and then on how we can leverage technology to meet those objectives. This most important first phase is often overlooked in software design. This is the "Why" of your project. This is the Enable difference.
| |
 |
Some of the things to consider:
- What is your primary objective? Marketing? Online sales? Image building? Vendor Integration? Customer Support? Other?
- What will make this project a success for your company or organization?
- Who is your target audience? Internal or External? Retail or B2B? How tech-savvy is the user base? Age range? What other characteristics does your audience have?
- What action do you want the users of your site to take? Make a purchase? Call for an appointment (or make one online)? Call for more information? Click through to another site? Find assistance with your product or service?
- What content do you have available? Will you be creating new content or will you reuse currently available content?
|
Phase 2: Planning
During the planning phase, we will work with you to develop the specific requirements for your site or application. These requirements will drive the rest of the process, from look and feel creation to technical design and development. They are the "What" of your project.
Once we have enough information to begin to form a preliminary design, we will create a sitemap. This sitemap will contain a list of the major topic areas and the main content in each area. The purpose and audience of your site or application must be kept in mind during the planning phase. The content must be ordered in a logical, easy to navigate manner. During this phase we will discuss which technology options may best serve your needs. We have a wide range of options at our disposal and we'll help you choose the options that meet your objectives and budget.
In all phases, but especially during the planning phase we apply our philosophy to "keep things as simple as possible, but not simpler".
Phase 3: Design
Only now that we understand the "Why" and the "What" will begin design - we put your goals and objectives first. The design phase defines the "How" of your project. In this phase, we will create the technical design. Depending on the complexity of your application, the technical design may range from a short brief on the technologies used to a full-fledged UML model with class diagrams, sequence diagrams and network models.
We will work with you to develop the look and feel of your site, taking into consideration all of the information we have gathered about your company and target audience. We'll incorporate your existing branding into the design to strengthen your corporate identity. Usually the designer will create one or more prototypes for you to review. This prototype will become the template for the user interface (the page layout) of your site.
Phase 4: Development
At this point we know the "Why, What and How" and can begin construction of the application and/or site. If we are implementing a Content Management Solution, we will create the initial structure of your site, apply the look a feel and create page templates. We will create or load content if that is part of your project. For custom development projects, we will take the design documentation and create the application.
We follow proven best practices and implement coding standards to ensure the quality of the final product. The files and code for your project will be kept confidential and safe in our source code management database throughout the development phase. You will receive periodic status updates as development progresses.
Phase 5: Testing
Once construction is complete, we will test your site in various browsers. Our standard testing suite includes the current versions of IE and Firefox, and any other browsers / devices included in your project Statement of Work.
Testing of applications and custom development is an ongoing process throughout the construction phase culminating with what we call Integration Testing in this phase. We will test your application in a QA environment and provide your team with an opportunity for User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
When final approval has been received, we will finalize the delivery of your web site and upload the files and content to the production web server(s). Final testing will be completed against the site before it is turned over to your team.
Phase 6: Training
As described in your Statement of Work, we will provide training for your staff. If you are using our Content Management System, we will provide you with a hard copy manual and download links for electronic or online copies. We can provide a wide range of training options, from customized on-site training to live webinars. We have a training option for all project sizes and budgets that will get your staff up and running as efficiently as possible.
After your project is complete we will provide support as outlined in your Statement of Work. We have a variety of support options to meet the varied needs of our clients. We can provide content loading and content editing services as your site grows in size. Our Content Management System allows for easy look and feel customization and we can provide new templates as the need arises. We can also provide backup and upgrade services.